Ways Parents Can Help Teens Transition from Middle School to High School (Part II)

When your tween/teen gets to high school, things often change, largely based upon where you live. For instance, in bigger cities, one high school can accept students from multiple middle schools/junior high schools. It is not uncommon for these large high schools to have class sizes of 1000+ students per grade level. You child could easily be going from a school with several hundred students to a high school with several thousand students.

As such, it is not uncommon for your tween/teen to feel displaced, lost, isolated, anxious, alone, and overwhelmed with the thought of starting high school. In this two part blog series, we are reviewing ten different ways you can help your child with the transition from middle school/junior high school to high school. The first five were presented in Part I and the next set of five are presented below.

Establish New RoutinesYour child is going to have additional responsibilities and more freedom than they did in middle school. It is important to change before and after school routines to reflect their new level of freedom and responsibilities.

Focus on the DetailsParents need to pay attention to the details and take responsibility to help their child make sure they have everything they need to start high school. This could involve buying the right school supplies, new clothing, gym uniforms, and other such items they will need now that they are in high school.

Get to Know Your Child’s FriendsYour freshman student is going to be exposed to students of all ages. Be aware of your child’s friends and do not hesitate to question friendships with older students. Sometimes older students are supportive and will mentor your child. However, it is also not uncommon for some older students to try to take advantage of younger students and their lack of experience in a high school setting.

Adjusting to New Academic Standards Takes TimeYour tween/teen is going to have different academic standards than they did in middle school. Make sure they understand that their freshman year counts toward their cumulative GPA and their transcript are reviewed by universities. Keep in mind, many students experience lower grades their first year of high school, but these should start to improve once they become more comfortable with their new environment.

Recognize When It Is Time to Seek HelpIt does not hurt to monitor your child’s social media pages and watch for signs of cyberbullying, and sarcastic and derogatory comments from other kids you or your child do not know. If your tween/teen is getting into trouble, when they have not in the past, or is getting into fights with other students, it is time to seek help.Work with your child’s counselors, teachers, and other professionals at the high school to determine root causes of problems. If needed, take your child to a qualified therapist. If things are not improving, sometimes a change in the high school environment may be necessary.

There are alternative high schools for teens, which offer a smaller, more personalized learning environment where your tween/teen can find the support and acceptance they require. To learn more about alternative and therapeutic schools in NJ, please feel free to call Sage Day at 877-887-8817 today.